هلمَّ لمثل خدك يا نديمي

هلمَّ لمثل خدك يا نديمي

ولؤلؤ ثغرك الباهي النظيم

ولؤلؤ ثغرك الباهي النظيم

Come, my drinking companion, to something like your cheek

Come, let us drink like your cheek, my boon companion

and the splendid, strung pearls of your mouth:

And the pearl of your eloquent, well-formed mouth

مشعشعةٌ كأن بكل كاسٍ

مشعشعةٌ كأن بكل كاسٍ

لها شمساً تنقَّط بالنجوم

لها شمساً تنقَّط بالنجوم

wine mingled with water, as though in every cup

Radiant, as though in every cup

of it were a sun speckled with stars.

There is a sun dotted with stars

إذا صبت سمعت لها أنيناً

إذا صبت سمعت لها أنيناً

ينوء بأنة الحجل الرخيم

ينوء بأنة الحجل الرخيم

When it is poured, you hear from it a moan

When poured, one hears it moan

that overwhelms the sweet-voiced partridge’s plaint.

Like the supple palm branch bending with sorrow

يداوي كل مكلوم سناها

يداوي كل مكلوم سناها

كأن شعاعها نار الكليم

كأن شعاعها نار الكليم

Its radiance heals everyone wounded,

It heals all pained by its brilliance

as though its rays were the fire of Moses.

As though its rays were the fire of Moses